For: Purchase of six cases of skin lubricant, two boxes of tennis balls, two state-of-the-art hearing aids, a titanium bed pan and Like New Glu comb-over hair gel, plus $22.52 in shipping fees, signed for by Sen. Chuck Grassley’s staff.

Amount: $2,115

To: Puppy Love At First Bite LLC (Texas)

For: Annual membership fees paid for the Information Technology Department staff, as per their employee contracts.

Amount: $600

To: Gannett Inc.

For: Payroll as incentive for the staff of The Des Moines Register to gather their own story leads.

The State of Iowa recently approved its seven-member staff, and their spouses, in the Iowa Public Health and Stress Prevention Department to travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from April 18 – May 23, to attend the annual Inner Peace Meditation and Yoga Convention. The convention promises to relax attendees through ancient massage and meditation techniques that date back to the Mayans, as well as attend smoke and solvent sessions where guests discover the medicinal value of certain plants and their byproducts. This comes at a $230,420 cost to taxpayers of this state. APRIL FOOLS!